Look for Me/Lisa Gardner/391 pgs.

In the early morning, a family is murdered--all except one: 16 year old Roxanna "Roxy" Baez. She's missing, plus the family's two elderly dogs. When she doesn't return, speculation abounds: was Roxy in on the murder of her family, and if not, why doesn't she go to the police? Enter Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren, and unofficially, Flora Dane--a survivor turned vigilante. They join forces to find Roxy, and to unravel the mystery of her family's deaths. Riveting! Highly recommended.

On a side note: this will be my last post since I am retiring from the library district. I have enjoyed the SCCCLD Book Challenge, and hope that other SCCCLD staff will take up the challenge!

Seeing Red/Sandra Brown/421 pgs.

Major Franklin Trapper became an instant hero when, 25 years ago, he rescued several innocent bystanders in a bombing in Dallas. Kerra Bailey, an up and coming TV journalist, has landed the interview of the century--with Major Trapper, who had become somewhat of a recluse in the last decade. She wins the interview by contacting John Trapper--the Major's estranged son. Sparks fly between Kerra and John--but can she trust him, especially when it becomes apparent that her life is in danger. This is one of Sandra Brown's better novels. Highly recommended!

I Have the Right To: a High School Survivor's story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope/Chessy Prout/404 pgs.

Chessy Prout was looking forward to her freshman year at St. Paul's School, a prestigious, co-ed boarding school in New Hampshire, for high school students. Chessy's father was an alum, and her older sister, Lucy, would be a senior; it should have been an ideal situation. It wasn't brought to the public's attention that St. Paul's was hiding, and abetting, a culture conducive to rape. Chessy courageously blew the whistle on them when she became a victim of the practice known as the "Senior Salute." She brought charges against Owen Labrie, a senior at the time, and a fair haired boy of St. Paul's. The school closed ranks, and tried to make it all go away. It's a difficult read, and sadly, a story that is all too common these days. Recommended.

Hidden Figures/MargoLee Shetterly/346 pgs.

The subtitle of this book gives a very good description of its contents: the American dream and the untold story of the black women mathematicians who helped win the space race. Having seen the movie by the same title, I was looking forward to reading this book. It gives a more in depth picture of the trials and tribulations of the women who were such an integral part of the successful United States space program. The book can be pretty technical in parts, but it tells such a little known aspect  of United States history, that it is well worth the read. Highly recommended!

The Woman in the Window/A.J. Finn/427 pgs.

Similar to The Girl on the Train, and Gone Girl, The Woman in the Window has the reader questioning what is real and what isn't. Anna Fox, an agoraphobic, hasn't left her house for months. She spends her days spying on her neighbors, mixing her medications with wine, and is a total mess. Then she sees the unimaginable--or did she? I went into reading this book somewhat jaded--I thought it was going to be too much like the above mentioned titles. I was wrong--I read it in two days. Highly recommended!

Modern Death: how medicine changed the end of life/Haider Warraich/324 pgs.

Awhile ago, I read Dr. Atul Gawande's Being mortal : medicine and what matters in the end. Dr. Warraich's Modern Death complements Dr. Gawande's book. Both books describe how advances in modern medicine make it difficult at times to provide the patient with a "peaceful" death. Dr. Warraich discusses what has been defined as "death" throughout time, in addition to the moral and ethical issues involved in dealing with terminal illness patients. He provides the reader with patient cases he and his colleagues have struggled with, plus court cases that have tried to define when treatment goes beyond the patient's wishes. It's an intriguing read about an issue most of us will face at some time in our lives. Highly recommended!

Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give/Ada Calhoun/192 pgs.

Evidently this book was inspired by the author's "Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give" essay published in the New York Times. It is a down to earth depiction of the ups and downs of married life. There is humor, but also a seriousness to the discussion of why some marriages last and others don't. It provides some very thought provoking insights into the state of marriage. Recommended!

The Lost Plot: an invisible library novel/ Genevieve Cogman/367 pgs.

In this latest invisible library novel, Librarian Irene Winters and her intern, Kai, are searching in a prohibition era New York City for Librarian Evariste, who might have gone rogue. As part of the Library, Irene and Evariste cannot violate neutrality when it comes to dealing with alternate worlds. In this case, two dragons are vying for a position that will leave the loser dead. A lot is at stake, and Irene and Kai find themselves up to their eyeballs in danger, intrigue, and dragon politics! It's a fun read, and a fun series! Highly recommended!

Astronaut Wives Club: a true story/Lily Koppel/302 pgs.

From the Mercury Seven through the Original Nineteen, Lily Koppel gives the reader an inside look into the lives of the American astronauts and their spouses and families. It shouldn't surprise the reader about the number of divorces, mental issues, etc. experienced by this select group--an absorbing read. Recommended!

The Bright Hour/Nina Riggs/310 pgs.

The subtitle of the book says it all: "a memoir of living and dying." Nina Riggs, in her late thirties, was no stranger to cancer; her mother had been battling it in one form or another for years--with the last form being labeled "terminal." During this stage, Nina learns of her own cancer, which turns out to be an aggressive form of breast cancer. She has two young sons, a terrific support group in her husband, family, and friends, and the determination to journal her experiences when she becomes "terminal." It's a powerful book, and gives the reader a glimpse into the everyday life of families dealing with such a horrific diagnosis. Her courage, and that of her husband, is truly awe inspiring. Highly recommended.

Dark in Death/J.D. Robb/372 pgs.

A murderer is on the loose, and is using mystery author Blaine DeLano's books as inspiration for method and victims. Murder cop Lieutenant Eve Dallas is tasked with finding the murderer, and stopping him/her before another person dies. It's a good addition to the popular series, and one that I recommend with no reservations!

The Paris Secret/Karen Swan/408 pgs.

There is a Paris apartment that has been vacant since after World War II. The Vermeil family, who the owners, learn of its existence, and the art objects in contains. Flora Sykes, a fine art agent, is called into assess the contents, and to trace the history of the paintings stored there. All is not as clear cut as it initially appears to be. Who were the original owners of the works of art, and how did they come to be in the Vermeil family's possession? There are family secrets--not only on the Vermeil side, but also in the Sykes family. There is something for everyone in this novel: mystery, romance, family secrets, a smattering of art history and World War II history. The book was highly recommended by a colleague--and it didn't disappoint. Highly recommended!

Promise Not to Tell/Jayne Ann Krentz/325 pgs.

Virginia Troy, a Seattle gallery owner, learns of the death of an artist, Hannah Brewster, who had been a member of the same cult Virginia had been in as a child. Hannah had sent the picture of her last painting to Virginia before the cabin she lived in was torched. Virginia enlists the help of Anson Salinas's detective agency--Anson had rescued Virginia and other children from the cult years ago. This puts Virginia in contact with Cabot Sutter, a foster son of Anson's, and also in the same cult as Virginia years ago. Each of them believes that Quinton Zane, the cult master, is still alive, and that Hannah was trying to get a message to them about him. There is mystery, suspense, romance, and an open ending to the novel. It's an entertaining read, and I look forward to the last installment!

Young Jane Young/Gabrielle Zevin/294 pgs.

As a legislative intern, Aviva Grossman makes a big mistake--think Monica Lewinsky, but with a congressman instead of the President of the United States. In order to put the past behind her, Aviva reinvents herself: she changes her name, relocates to a different part of the country, and discovers her talent as an event planner. The story is told from different characters' perspectives, which gives an insight into Aviva that the reader might not otherwise obtain. Highly recommended!

The Widow/ Fiona Barton/ 324 pgs.

Jean Taylor's husband, Glen, was accused of kidnapping a toddler. The toddler never reappeared, Glen wasn't convicted, and now Glen has died. What did Jean know about her husband's involvement in the kidnapping--if he was involved at all? The story is broken into chapters told from various characters' perspectives: Jean, the reporter, the detective, the missing child's mother, and one chapter on Glen. It's a fast, somewhat dark read. Recommended!

The Wife Between Us/Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen/343 pgs.

The reader is sucked in from the first page. There is the ex-wife who appears to be unable to come to terms with the fact that her ex-husband is replacing her with a younger woman. But is that really the case? There are so many plot twists in this book that it's not safe to assume anything. I enjoyed the book, but felt that the build up in the first half didn't carry through to the end. Still, I give it a high recommendation.

Lucky the Hard Way/Deborah Coonts/309 pgs.

In addition to being part of a series, Lucky the Hard Way is the sequel to Lucky Break. In Lucky the Hard Way, Lucky O'Toole makes her way over to Macau in order to save her former lover, Teddie, who is the prime suspect in a murder investigation, AND to save her father's Las Vegas casino, the Babylon. If that's not enough, she's leaving behind her fiancé to prepare for the opening of their new hotel and restaurant. There is murder, mayhem, double crosses, etc., which results in a fast paced enjoyable read. It's a fun (and funny) series. Recommended!

The Orphan's Tale/Pam Jenoff/342 pgs.

This book centers around a German circus, during World War II, and an unlikely friendship that develops between two women. Noa is a sixteen year old kicked out by her parents when she becomes pregnant by a German soldier. Astrid, Jewish, marries a German soldier, is divorced by him, and joins the circus that had once been in competition with her family's circus. The story is told in alternating voices between Noa and Astrid. This book is one of the saddest ones I have read, but gives a different insight, though fictitious, into the impact Hitler's regime had on the circus. Recommended.

Lucky Break/Deborah Coonts/281 pgs.

This is the 6th entry in the "Lucky Vegas Adventure" series. Lucky O'Toole is Vice President of Customer Relations for the Babylon, a casino resort. She's newly engaged, and is preparing for the opening of her own restaurant with her fiancé. Murder has a way of always altering Lucky's plans. Her ex-lover is being accused of murder, and Lucky is determined to prove his innocence. This is a fun series--it revolves around Vegas, Lucky's quirky and dysfunctional family, and a cast of characters you can't help but like. Highly recommend this book and series.

Righteous: an IQ novel/Joe Ide/330 pgs.

Isaiah Quintabe, a.k.a. IQ, is still on the hunt for whoever murdered his older brother, Marcus, ten years ago. Up until that point, Marcus was Isaiah's mentor, best friend, and care giver--it was the two of them against the world. Isaiah eventually dropped out of school, and used his high intelligence for solving crimes in his downtrodden neighborhood. In this second book in the series, Isaiah is not only trying to discover (and bring to justice) the person responsible for Marcus's death, but also to find Marcus's girlfriend's sister, Janine, who has gone missing. There are so many threads in the story line--but it works. Isaiah isn't your typical "hero"--he's awkward, lacks social skills--but he is someone you want on your side. I can't speak highly enough of this new series. Highly recommended!